Homeschooling is regulated by the state rather than the federal government, which means that you will need to look to the specifics in your state to find out what, if anything, you have to do to be legally homeschooling. Some states consider homeschools to be private schools and regulate them as such, some states have specific homeschool statutes, and some have no homeschool regulations at all.
Don't assume that just because legalities sound confusing that they are hard to comply with. Local and state homeschool groups can give you guidance in understanding the law, but be sure to seek out the actual state code (which is usually online at your state's official website) for the most up to date and accurate legal information with regard to homeschooling.
Related Reading
Ask Jeanne: Can a 20-Year-Old Earn a Homeschool Diploma?
As a parent of a high school homeschooler, I was approached by a neighbor who asked if I knew what the age limit was to begin homeschool. Her 20-year-old son never finished school, sadly. It seemed almost impossible for him to get his GED, having been enrolled on and off since he was 16. Knowing the need for a diploma, she’s considering homeschool, believing with one-on-one teaching, he will obtain his diploma, and his future will much brighter. Unable to find information on the North Carolina Homeschool help website about age restrictions, I’m hoping you can help us.
Ask Jeanne: Homeschooling and Immunization Law
I have a 4-year-old little girl. We have always wanted to homeschool her. The main reason for this decision is we don't agree with vaccinations. My fiancé is older than I am. He grew up in the '70s, so in his mind, this was going to be easy. Well, times have changed. I have been doing research, and it seems so much harder than I was thinking. I'm so overwhelmed with information that I don't know where to start. My little girl is so smart, and she's easy to teach, so we've got that down, but as far as the ...
Naming Your Homeschool
Does your homeschool have a name? Does it need one? What makes a good name for a homeschool? Whether you name your homeschool has to do with law, custom, and personal preference. You will want to consider benefits and disadvantages to naming your homeschool, as well as naming ideas, things to avoid, and how you can use a homeschool name to your (and your children's) advantage.
The "Show Me" Letter
A new administrator, unfamiliar with the finer points of the homeschool law, asked for more than the legal requirement. She called to tell me she wanted a list of the books I would be using. Being an unschooler, I couldn't guess what books would grab my kids' interest. Even if I could guess, this was beyond the law. However, I felt this phone conversation was not the time to say so.
When Your Child Goes from Homeschooling to Public School
Sometimes things change, and your child will go from homeschooling to attending public school. What should you expect when you start the process? Here are a few first thoughts...
What Is Accreditation? Should My Homeschool Be Accredited?
With the slow but steady growth of homeschooling across the United States comes a parallel growth in online, distance learning programs and schools. While many parents continue to provide independent, customized instruction to their children, others seek “enrolled homeschooling”—that which provides teacher-guided instruction, report cards/transcripts/credits, and other familiar elements of traditional education. Choosing a provider for this type of schooling naturally leads to an increase in questions about accreditation: what is it exactly, and how does it pertain to homeschooling?
Ask Jeanne: "Does school decide what grade?"
We have moved and I would like him to attend our new home public school at the beginning of the second semester. If I began the school year doing 3rd grade work, would they accept him as a 3rd grade student at the second semester? Who decides what grade a child enters when they return back to public schools?
Plan Now for Homeschool End-of-Year Requirements
Many homeschoolers have to submit an end-of-year homeschool progress report of some kind to meet state, school division, or charter school requirements. Plan now to save yourself turmoil and make that process easier by asking yourself these questions now to prepare for spring requirements.
Back-to-School Forms as Tea and Muffins
Summer is waning, and the fall quickly approaches, with its back-to-school excitement! Even homeschoolers who educate throughout the summer often use the fall as a time to try a fresh start with new curriculum, implement a new approach, or get creative to inject a breath of fresh air into their school. For many home educators, August is an important time to send in test scores, file notice-of-intent forms, and fulfill their state's legal requirements in order to be able to homeschool.
Extra Rules Always Required
Time and again, in various states around the country, we have seen that homeschool tax credit legislation attracts increased monitoring. With new federal "model" homeschool tax credit legislation already proposed, homeschoolers must be extremely vigilant in opposing this well intentioned threat to our homeschool freedoms.
Do You Know What Law Enables You To Homeschool?
If you don’t know, you should. How else can you tell whether the next government official who tells you that you have to do what he says is lying or misunderstanding the law? Do you really want to “comply” with what the government official tells you to do if it is not required by law? Maybe it doesn’t bother you to “comply”. Would it bother your neighbor? More importantly, would it bother your children when it is their turn to homeschool your grandchildren? Perhaps it would. If you “comply” when you are not required to do so, will it become that much easier for ...
Without a Season: Virginia Homeschool Sports Access
For the first time since Nick was four years old, he doesn't have a spring soccer season. He is a U15 player for a Richmond Kickers competitive youth travel team, and at his age and level, his teammates will be trying out for their public high school teams. Therefore, club soccer takes a break, with the understanding that players are getting their soccer in their community's public schools. In 29 other states, Nick could also try out to play on a school team. But not in Virginia -- because the Virginia High School League says kids who legally meet the ...
Goldilocksing the Homeschool Law
On social media this time of year, there are a lot of incorrect comments about homeschool laws, and there are a lot of people who are talking about over complying with the law to show how great homeschooling is and how well their child is doing—or under complying because they don’t want to involve the government in family life. You can save yourself and your fellow homeschoolers a few headaches by heeding the advice I’m about to give.
